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Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Emerson College’s only independent, student-run newspaper since 1947

The Berkeley Beacon

Grace Griffin

Grace Griffin, Copy Editor

Latest from Grace Griffin
Head Over Feels: The story doesn’t end here

Head Over Feels: The story doesn’t end here

By Grace Griffin / May 11, 2020

I started writing love columns by accident.  One Wednesday during the first semester of my sophomore year, my boyfriend at the time broke up with me...

Head Over Feels: Navigating hook-up culture as a serial monogamist

Head Over Feels: Navigating hook-up culture as a serial monogamist

By Grace Griffin / January 22, 2020

I am a Taurus sun sign with Cancer moon and Venus placements. Astrologically speaking, that means I’m a clingy little baby when it comes to relationships....

Head Over Feels: Where can I show my queer identity?

Head Over Feels: Where can I show my queer identity?

By Grace Griffin / December 12, 2019

During the first semester of my freshman year in 2017, I walked into my suite mates’ room and closed the door behind me. “I think I’m bisexual,”...

Cannabis Column: The high cost of criminal cannabis charges

Cannabis Column: The high cost of criminal cannabis charges

By Grace Griffin / November 19, 2019

One night in early 2018, a friend and I sat on a bench in the Boston Common and smoked cannabis. A Boston police officer approached us; “There’s no...

Beacon Archives

Junior returns funds raised for homeless men following discovery of sex-offender status

By Grace Griffin / October 22, 2019

Junior Karigan Wright disabled her GoFundMe campaign for three local homeless men after learning all are registered as level-three sex offenders in Massachusetts.  Karigan...

"Children with pursuits that aren’t conventionally 'academic' should not be discouraged from pursuing what they love." / Illustration by Ally Rzesa

Abandoning creative pursuits in the name of success

By Grace Griffin / September 24, 2019

I started playing the piano and taking painting and drawing classes outside of school at age nine. In eighth grade, I studied art history for the first...

Grace Griffin - Graphic By Ally Rzesa / Berkeley Beacon Staff

Head Over Feels: Anthems of my recovery

By Grace Griffin / September 9, 2019

*Content Warning: This article discusses themes of violence, trauma, and sexual assault. The first time I heard a musical artist sing openly about sexual...

Grace Griffin - Graphic By Ally Rzesa / Berkeley Beacon Staff

Head Over Feels: Swipe right to calm dating anxiety

By Grace Griffin / March 13, 2019

Almost every Tinder date I go on is with someone I already know. A few weeks ago, I was swiping through the app when I saw an acquaintance. After exchanging...

Lily Doolin (top right) and TJ Coste (bottom right) read Mystic members’ tarot cards at the first meeting of the fall 2018 semester. •  Courtesy of Kyle Eber

Mystic organization creates platform for Paganism

By Grace Griffin / February 21, 2019

When sophomore Kyle Eber was a child, his mother came home from work one day and he immediately sensed something was wrong. Eber asked her why she was...

Grace Griffin - Graphic By Ally Rzesa / Berkeley Beacon Staff

Head Over Feels: Have some respect. Stop ghosting.

By Grace Griffin / January 14, 2019

My last “breakup” happened with a guy whom I never officially dated. I use the term “breakup” loosely because he didn’t end things with me—he...

Grace Griffin - Graphic By Ally Rzesa / Berkeley Beacon Staff

Head Over Feels: The anxiety of dating with a mental illness

By Grace Griffin / October 30, 2018

In the fourth grade, I had my first panic attack—at least, the first one I remember. It happened at a softball game. I worked myself up to the verge...

Junior Liza Rogulina makes and sells her own Emerson-inspired buttons. Photo by Erin Nolan / Beacon Staff

Junior turns Emerson inside jokes into buttons

By Grace Griffin / October 16, 2018

Students on campus can be seen sporting pins on their jackets and backpacks with professor Chester Lee and his infamous catchphrase, “If I may,” or...

Rebecca Morgan Brusker '18 and Hillary Clinton / Courtesy of Kristen Blush

Alumna captures inspiration found in Hillary Clinton’s campaign

By Grace Griffin / September 20, 2018

When Hillary Clinton saw Rebecca Morgan Brubaker ‘18 at a book signing, Brubaker told Clinton her idea for a documentary about the 2016 election. Clinton...

Grace Griffin - Graphic By Ally Rzesa / Berkeley Beacon Staff

Head Over Feels: Long-distance love will never be convenient

By Grace Griffin / September 20, 2018

When I was 15, I remember hearing the lyric, “This love will never be convenient," in the Front Bottoms song “Tattooed Tears.” Although The Front...

EAGLE changes name to broaden inclusivity

EAGLE changes name to broaden inclusivity

By Grace Griffin / September 13, 2018

Even the president of EAGLE, Christopher Henderson-West said he felt othered by the name “Emerson’s Alliance for Gays, Lesbians, and Everyone.”...

Director of Intercultural Student Affairs Tamia Jordan handles name and gender changes on file for students. Beacon Archives

Intercultural Student Affairs emcees hip-hop month

By Grace Griffin / April 19, 2018

At age 14, Elmer Martinez started dancing in Lowell’s underground hip-hop scene. He said hip-hop influenced his upbringing, and he saw a lack of that...

Katie Johnson (left) and Suzie Hicks (right) are co-chairs for Out of the Darkness. Photo by Justin Scott Johnson.

Out of the Darkness walk illuminates suicide prevention

By Grace Griffin / April 4, 2018

For the second year in a row, Emerson will join Northeastern University, Boston University, and other Boston schools in hosting an Out of the Darkness...

Style Column: Giving credit is always in season

Style Column: Giving credit is always in season

By Grace Griffin / April 4, 2018

On the red carpet, it is common that women are asked about their clothes more often than men. Yet recently, many female celebrities are combating this....

This month, Emerson Polling Society has surveyed marijuana opinions nationwide.

More than half of Americans support marijuana legalization, says ECPS poll

By Grace Griffin / March 27, 2018

The Emerson Polling Society made a name for itself by receiving national attention for polling the 2016 presidential election. This month, their polling...

Kaylee Largay is organizing Cambiar Festival, a 2019 music, arts, and fashion event in Boston. Photo courtesy of Kaylee Largay.

Cambiar Festival shines light on rare cancer research

By Grace Griffin / March 15, 2018

When Kaylee Largay ‘17 was a freshman her mother passed away from Leiomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Since then, Largay knew she wanted to give...

Lydia Albonesi is bringing Survivor Love Letter, a campaign inspired by the #MeToo movement, to Emerson. Photo: Brooke Northup / Beacon Correspondent

Freshman brings viral valentine campaign to campus

By Grace Griffin / February 14, 2018

Propelled by the #MeToo movement, Lydia Albonesi brought Survivor Love Letter—a social media campaign where participants write love letters to survivors...

"Refugees (You Will Find No Other Seas)" is the focal point of the Urban Arts Gallery's new William Kentridge Exhibit. Photo: Courtesy of Joseph Ketner II.

Urban Arts to exhibit famed South African artist

By Grace Griffin / February 7, 2018

On April 21, 2016, William Kentridge covered the Tiber embankment in Rome with six-foot-tall plastic stencils. He used powerful jets to spray the 550-yard...

Senior Erin Jean Hussey runs for a reason

Senior Erin Jean Hussey runs for a reason

By Grace Griffin / January 24, 2018

First time marathon runner and senior Erin Jean Hussey will tread over 26 miles through the streets of Boston to raise money and awareness for survivors...

Amber Gideon has moved on from ballads and taken on comedy in her songwriting. (Courtesy of Amber Gideon)

Alum performs song “Skinnyfat” to satirize body image

By Grace Griffin / January 18, 2018

The inspiration for the newest single “Skinnyfat” by Amber Gideon ‘06 came from peers teasingly comparing her body to Jell-O in high school....

Mercedes Lamb has been drawing posters featuring Griff the Lion for the office of Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL).
ILLUSTRATION BY MERCEDES LAMB

Emerson mascot Griff the Lion gets a new look

By Grace Griffin / December 7, 2017

Emerson’s newly reimagined lion mascot fits in well with the student body, sporting a “man bun,” gauges, and flannel. Senior and graphic...

Vera Satana and Valentina Amaro are co-editors-in-chief of Raíz Latinoamericana's new magazine.CASSANDRA MARTINEZ / BEACON STAFF

Raíz Latinoamericana spreads roots on campus

By Grace Griffin / November 25, 2017

After two years on campus, Raíz Latinoamericana is expanding from theater into publishing a magazine, a short film, and a documentary showcasing...

Vivien Liu, the co-president of ASIA, led the planning efforts to bring ECAASU's Engage to campus.CASSANDRA MARTINEZ / BEACON STAFF

ASIA to host conference with panel, performances

By Grace Griffin / November 8, 2017

Asian Students for Intercultural Awareness is launching Engage: The First Campus Tour, a new one-day student conference, this Saturday. ASIA...

Freshmen Rashona Kumar and Bethany Knickerbocker are working together to start the first Camp Kesem at Emerson.
CASSANDRA MARTINEZ / BEACON STAFF

Freshmen aim to start summer camp

By Grace Griffin / October 18, 2017

When she was 10, Rishona Kumar went to Camp Kesem, a weeklong summer program led by college-student counselors for children with parents who have...

Seniors Suzie Hicks and Ellie Penfield-Cyr are expanding Project WOW into a five-day Hidden Lantern festival.
Lindsey Toomer / Beacon Correspondent

Hidden Lantern festival to shine light on mental health

By Grace Griffin / October 4, 2017

Last April, over 200 students packed into a Walker classroom for the one-night event Project WOW, an art fair promoting mental health. The festival...